Almost nothing impacts your physical and mental health like a spinal cord or brain injury that causes paralysis. A paralyzing injury changes a person’s entire life, from being able to engage in activities they once loved to their mental health and well-being, down to their financial stability.
At Cain Law, our sensitive paralysis injury attorneys put your health first. We focus on helping you find the resources and compensation you need to ensure you have quality medical care and support during this challenging time. Our legal team also works toward holding the careless individual accountable for their actions.
You need someone advocating for you. Let the Oklahoma personal injury lawyer at Cain Law find personalized legal solutions tailored to your situation. We can take your call 24/7 and will set you up with a free, no-obligation consultation to discuss your case.
Why You Need a Paralysis Injury Lawyer
Spinal injury paralysis can change your life in ways you may never have imagined. That is part of what makes paralysis injury claims so challenging. Calculating compensation for life-altering injuries that account for your current and future medical needs, lost wages, and quality of life changes is tricky — especially for insurance companies who want to keep profits high and your payout low.
You need a paralysis injury lawyer advocating for you and fighting to recover maximum compensation for your injuries. While money can’t change your physical or mental health, it can help stabilize your financial situation and give you the means to get the quality care you deserve so you can focus on healing.
At Cain Law, we come to you and discuss the unique aspects of your case before outlining your options for pursuing compensation. You owe us nothing for this personalized legal strategy until we recover compensation for you.
Our extensive case results speak for themselves. With legal representation, your chances of securing a favorable outcome to your situation increase.
Types of Paralysis and Their Legal Implications
Paralysis describes various conditions that limit or prevent movement and mobility. A paralyzing injury occurs when damage to the nervous system disrupts communication between the brain and other body areas. One of the most common causes of paralysis is a spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injury paralysis happens when damage to the spinal cord prevents messages from being sent between the brain and other areas of the body.
The following are the two classifications of spinal cord injuries:
- Incomplete Injury – An incomplete injury occurs when the nerves in the spinal cord are damaged but can still transmit messages to and from the brain. Incomplete injuries may be temporary and have the ability to heal over time.
- Complete Injury – A complete spinal cord means that the spinal cord is severed or damaged so severely it can no longer transmit messages, causing paralysis. Complete spinal cord injuries are permanent.
Spinal cord injuries can cause several types of paralyzing injuries. These injuries get categorized by which limbs are affected or where along the spinal cord the damage occurred. Common paralyzing conditions include the following:
- Paraplegia – Paraplegia occurs when the spinal cord is severed or damaged in the thoracic or lumbar regions of the spine. This condition affects everything below an individual’s waist and, often, the torso, depending on the location of the damage. Paraplegia results in the loss of sensation and mobility of the legs. It can also cause sexual dysfunction and loss of bowel and bladder control.
- Quadriplegia – Quadriplegia, also called tetraplegia, is the loss of sensation and function of all four limbs and the torso from the neck down. Most cases of quadriplegia stem from a spinal cord injury to the cervical region of the spine. In addition to the loss of sensation and mobility of most of the body, individuals may also have respiratory issues, autonomic dysfunctions, and cardiovascular issues. Pressure sores are also common.
Other less common forms of paralysis can include the following:
- Monoplegia
- Hemiplegia
- Diplegia
Spinal injury and paralysis can also lead to mental health concerns such as depression, suicidal thoughts, insomnia, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Common Causes of Paralysis Injuries
What injuries cause paralysis? Significant trauma to the brain or spine is the most common cause of paralyzing injuries. Accidents that can cause the kind of trauma that leads to paralyzing injuries in Oklahoma include the following:
- Car accidents
- Truck accidents
- Motorcycle accidents
- Bicycle accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Slip-and-fall accidents
- Premises liability cases
- Workplace injuries
- Defective products
The paralysis injury lawyers at Cain Law have the resources and skills to manage these cases and others stemming from the careless actions of another party.
Compensation for Paralysis Injury Victims
A catastrophic spinal cord injury doesn’t just impact your physical and mental health. It also affects your financial standing. Numbers from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation show that the lifetime costs associated with paraplegia can reach over $2 million, while costs for quadriplegia can reach up to $5 million. These statistics prove that compensation matters.
While the value of a paralysis injury claim varies based on the cause of the accident and the severity of the injury, individuals can often pursue money for the following:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Loss of earning capacity
- Emotional distress
- Loss of consortium
- Pain and suffering
- Property damage
Never negotiate with an insurance company or other entity without consulting a skilled paralysis injury attorney beforehand. You deserve fair compensation for your injuries and medical care, not pennies.
Legal Process for Filing a Paralysis Injury Claim
In some situations, a personal injury lawsuit may be the best option for pursuing maximum compensation. A paralysis injury lawyer can walk you through the steps involved in filing a lawsuit, such as the following:
- Preparing the complaint
- Filing legal documents
- Serving the liable parties
- Gathering and preserving crucial evidence in discovery
- Negotiating a settlement
- Taking the case to trial when necessary
Oklahoma law limits the time you can file a lawsuit, so the sooner you seek legal representation, the better. Victims only have two years from the date of the accident to sue.
Lawsuits can be time-consuming, so legal proceedings must take time and strategy. Your attorney can guide you through the process and help you understand your legal rights.
Contact Cain Law Today for a Free Consultation
At Cain Law, we have won over $100 million in verdicts and settlements for accident victims. We are proud to be a local law firm with extensive experience handling the nuances of Oklahoma law.
Contact our office today to get a free, no-obligation consultation. You pay nothing unless we recover money on your accident case.